Split-foot stocking-knitting machine



Nov. 23 1926. 1,608,194

G. L. BALLARD SPLIT FOOT STOCKING KNITTINGMACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1922 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 #VOR/"IAL NEEDLE PLA/VE Geoye L, son allafd, fkk/hul, may@ Nov. 23, 1926. 1,608,194

G. L. BALLARD SPLIT FOOT STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE? Filed Nov. 6, 1922 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnuenor:

No". 23 192e. 1,608,194

G. L. BALLARD SPLIT FOOT STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1922 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 llulnnmuml y mmumn 57729.45 EFA n, E Q 4 9 E E E@ Q b v Inl/tenian' Geogfe Lawson allard, /b m, ouaj/M M Nov. 23 1926.' y

s. L.. BALLARD SPLIT FOO'1 SvTOCKING KNITTING MACHINE 11 sheets-sheet e Inuenv Geol: ,e Lawson allam,

Nov. 23 1926. 1,608,194

G. L.. BALLARD SPLIT FOOT STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE n M. mi

Geozyie .L ...son Ballard, bg/Mama, MM/Mw Wb@ Nov. 23 1926. '1,608,194

' G.| BALLARD SPLIT' FOOT ySVTIOCKING KNITTING linw/mm3 (61,. 1922 11 sheets-'shea p I 83 S f4 35 S" l A nya.

Nov. 23 192s. L `1,603,194

G. L. BALLARD SPLIT FOOT STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. e. 1922 11 Sheets-Sheet l0 Inv/tenian' aaai/'91e .Lawson @allai-d,

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Nov.23,19z6. 1,608,194 G. l.. BALLARD I' l SPLIT FOOT STOCKING KNITTING` MACHINE Filed NOV- 6. 1922 l1 Sheets-Sheet llv Patented Non. .23, 192@n Unirse srArasrarea-ir carries.

linearer GEORGE LAWSON' BAlJL-ARD, 'OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVNIA, f.ASSIGNOR T0 WILD- MAN-MFG. C0., OF NORRSTOWN, PENN VANIA.

SYLVAN'IA, A coaromvrioiv ori'rnnnsrn spur-room strocKiNe-KNITTING MAcHrNE. i

Application filed November 6, 1922. Serial No. 599,402.

v.The invention relates to thegeneral type of machine which is designed to make split fabric goods, such for instance as split foot stockings, and it consists in the features and combination and 'arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings Figure l is a l'front view of a knitting head embodying the invention.

Figure 1a is a detail of a cam adjustment.

F ig. 2 is a side view lookingfrom the left of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic 3a and 3l are detail diagrams.

Fig. 4 is a developed view of' the cam-set looking from the outside inwardly/. Fig. la `shows. jacks.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the needle circle -and the yarn feeds and4 associatedparts,

with the auxiliary yarn in feeding position.

Fig. 5 isa view like Fig. 5. but of a fragmentary character, showing the instep yarn feed finger moved out from the needle circle preparatory to being raised to take this yarn out of operation while the heel is being knit at the main feed.

Fig. 5b is a View vlike Fig. .5, .but with the 'instep yarn guide in raised `position, this being the stage in the operation' following the conditionillustrated in Fig.v5, the yarn ren'iaining inactive but tied to the fabric ready to be introduced again when the `knitfeed B alone.

of the split fabric is to be Yting of the heel is finished and the knitting resumed.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective View indicating different positions of the instep yarn finger in relation tothe needles. Fig. 71's a diagrammatic perspectiivehyiew showing the conditions when the instepl'yar'n guide A is returned to feeding position after the heel is knit and the split-fabric above the heel is to be knit. A

Fig. 8 represents the condition-at another and morev advanced period of the same stroke that is transpiring in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9`is' a plan viewshowing theinstep yarn feed finger in the raised position assumed by it when the split fabric has been finished aboife the heel and the machine is about to go on round knitting with the main Figs. 9l and 9b are diagrammatic side 'views of the needle row illustrating how the plan view. Figs.

'suture needle,

instep yarn gets into the position shown in Fig. 9 ready to be locked into the fabric with the main yarn and then severed and clamped within 'the needle row.

Fig.10 is a diagrammatic view of the stocking.

Fig. 10a is a View of the fabric with its seams. y

.Fig ll is a detail View of pattern mechamsm. f

Fig. lla is an edge view of a pattern drum. Fig. 12 shows discs, and Fig. 13 is a side view of' part of the machine. I

ll have shown the invention. as embodied in a machine of the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States granted to M. Pigeon, No. 1,247,324 dated Nov. 20,

though it will be understood that I do not limit my invention to its combination with any particular machine organization, butv l employ herein the Pigeon mechanism 'in part asa convenient means with which my improvements may be combined. It is also to be understoodthat the invention may be embodied in,a latch needle machine, as well as in a spring needle machine.

In the as is well known, the needle cylinder is oscillated and an additional yarn is thrown in at a point diametrically opposite the main yarn feed, so that the sole of the stocking is knit at the main knitting cams andmain feed with one yarn, and the instep is knit with another yarn, at the additional feed, the suture between these two fabric' portions occurring along each side ofthe foot of the stocking. l

All of the needles throughout the circle in my invention, have butts at their lower portions. and the'instep needles each have, inaddition to the low positioned butt, another butt at its upperportion, and each at the end of the heel and toe series, has an upper butt which is shorter than the correspondingly located butts of the needles of the instep series. There are only two lengths of butts in themachine, viz, the two suture needles have their upp butts short and all the yother butts, vof all the needles, whether upperor lower butts, are of the same length. The needles of the.'

heel and toe series have no upper butts.

l The machine'has a main set 'of cams in- Gil i917, and No. 1,266,044, May 14., 191e,-

production of a split foot stocking,

` far mentioned, including the-mainand addiclnding e 'pair of stitch cams l, l', Figs. 3 end fl, on eech side ol center cem 2, radially movable switch cams 3, which direct the needle butts belovv the adjacent stitch cam for. knitting. lhese switch cenas opere-.te lilre those in the Pigeon machine. 'ldheylare spring pressed inwardly towards the center ol' the rnfiohine, end they lieve laterally 1n clined 3^" so that in oscilleting knitting the butts ot the needles on one stroke will pass along their normal path by striking these inclined faces, whereupon the switch canne will, recede outwardly to allow the needles to pesswhereas on the other stroke of the mechine, the needles will be deflected downwardly to pass under the stitch earn. @ne oi? he-se switch canas is retracted vby suitable connections 'tor round knitting, es

will be'hereineter described, these connec tions being lilte those el the Pigeon machine. l

'lhere e. needle raising cmu adjacent' each stitch cem for restoring the needles to their normal planeV eter making the stitch, end each ot these raising cams has s guard cani 5 above it. ln round knittingf in clockwise direction, Figs. 3 end `Ll, only one of tliese main stitch cams 1, l is in service, for instance that numbered l, all the' needle butts lacing directed thereunder by the switch cran 3 belonging to this cani l, these needles being .restored to norma-l plane by the adjacent cem fl, and when restored' the,

butts of these needles pass in this one planel in the arrow direction lLellof the other cams iinzluding` the switch cam l3,'slioivn at the leiter" Fig. d, this being e developed vienI from the outside looking towards the center ot the machine, being out et service. r:There is ajnerrowingpiclr 6 at earch side of v"the main cam vset as usual, and there is a double acting Widening piel; 'Z arrenged at the front ot' the machine pivotallyrnounted es will be described hereinafter to svving laterally in either direction, and `guided to more downwardly by e guide plete having inclines 8 against which the piel( slides. There are also levelling cams 2" for lowering any misplecedbntts into the plane of the widening pick.

For the additional yarn feed for making the instep portion of the stocking, there is an Vadditionalcam set at the front of the machine, which includes stitch cams l, lb, a `vcentral 2*? and restoring cams d. `The widening piclrv is arranged centrally of this additional cam set. All of 'the cams thus tional stitchy cams l, .1', andla, l, are ir-V ranged 1n the saine horizontal plane. There is also provided a pzur ot switch cams 3',

il, elevated in respect to the cams before described, andlocated atthe front ofv themachine. These switch camsl are `for directing the insteli needles'end the-`-snture needles,

i. e., thoe with upper butts, downiverdly et certain tiines, as will be explained hereinntter, so that the 'lower butts thereof will be directed beneath the stitch cams l, ll oli the .dditional set tor making stitches.. Vlhese switch cams ere radially movable, es will be hereinafter described.

There are also two needle liftingcarns 9, 9', which are elevated in respect tothe stitch and asociated cams. @ne of these lifting cerne, i. e., the one et the right, 9, performs the initial function ot' an instep cani, in that it raises the instep needles when reciprocating knitting `iler heel and toe Work is to be performed, this being thecnni et the right of Y Figlloth ot these cems 9, 9 come into nsein' melting the split sole., cani 9, when going onto the heel or toe 'Work radially nio'vehle vto and but only the trom: round knitting. ThemeG two (reins tirev lliene is also an intep lowering cern l0,

thisA also being radially adinstable, will be described. hereinafter. When oscillating knitting for. heel and toe Worlr is to be pertormed, the needle elevating cams 9,19 are set in towards the'center ot the machine where 'the cam 9, acting upon the upper butts e ot the instep needles, these will he elevated to idle position `and knitting of the heel or of the toe will be proceeded lwith on the heel arid toe needles `which operate in Vconnectiinn lwith the main knitting cams l, l?, and with the narrowing and Widening picks 6 and l, as in ordinary pino tice, it being understood that the pieles and cams operate the suture needles at the end ot the heeland toe series in just the saine menner that the other needles of 'this series are operated in Aforming heels and toes, be cause these needles having short 'upper butts, are not elevated to idle position by the cem 9, which is set in towards the needle cylinder *only lar enough to reise the instep needles by engaging. with the longer upper butts thereof, and Fig. fl shows the upper butts, a', a2 of these suture needles in dotted lines behind the'carns 9, 9', and in theirinorniel plane. Their lower butts of ere in the same plane with the butts of theV heel and toe lUU needles end canbe flicked in heel end toe knitting. llhere in this specification, needle butts ere referred to, it will be Iunderstood that this 1s for convenience be- 'canse the needles are driven by jacks which have thefbutts thereon, as shown in Fig. 4a. l QWhen the split foot is to be formed, the additional yarn is" thrown into work by flowering the additional yarn inger A and the needle cylinder being ocillated, the following actions result. Each suture or seaming needle in passing the two yarn feeds will at one of these feeds, simply hold its loop, hutavill notl form e.. new loop, while et the other feed it lwill draw a new loop and east lso vmainfeed and will knit Fig. 3. lihe arms ll, ll

i l nena-ies off'the old. These edeots will alternate in respect to the two feeds, thus, if we regard one of these suture needles, it will, on a clockwise stroke, miss loop yforming and casting at the main' yarn feed and will form a new loop and cast its old loop at the additional feed, whereas'on the return or anticlockwise stroke,` this same searning needle will notl knit at the additional feed, but will knit at the main feed. rllhe actions in respect to the other suture needle will be the reverse of that iuit mentioned, e., on thev clockwise stroke it will not knit at the additional feed, hut will knit at the main feed, whereas on the reverie` or anti-clockwise stroke, this needle` will miss knitting at the at the additional feed. rl`o`express it in another way, the suture needle'which leads a series of needles 1 on which stitches are to lce formed, will jsirnply hold its old loop on passing the stitch cam, as alead needle. hut this needle' when passing the opposite' stitch cuni as a, trailing needle, will draw a new' loop and cast its old eoop.

.est the main feed the leading suture needle is rendered inoperative for loop formation hecause it vpicked up to elevated or inoperative position by. the narrowing pick. rlhis same needle, however, on passing the diametrically opposite or instep feed, or what l have called the second feed, will knit loe-` lcause the left hand switch cam 3 will have heen adjusted inwardly against the cylinder prior to the arrival of the short hutt su'- ture needle which is now the trailing needle of those .knitting at this feed. The switch cams 3', 3'!" are mounted upon arms 1l and ll respectively. These arms are pivoted at v12,12 to sections 13 of a split collar, which sections are pivotally mounted at 13 to a suitable post extending. up from the hase of the machine. This collar forms a hearing for the needle cylinder', and it may he opened to allow access thereto. rihis also holds the jacks in their grooves. This split collar is indicated partly by dot and dash lines in are under tension of Springs let forcing them towards the center of the machine. The cam plates 3', 3 are hevelled on their inner faces, as shown at 3a in dotted lines in 3, and they are interconnected by a plate l5 which has notches l5c receiving` 'pins 16 projecting up from the arms Figs. 3l and 3b. l'he plate l5 slides in a bracket 16x. The notches of plate 15 are slightly' wider than the diameter ofthe pins so that some lost motion exists, when one cam is operated, before this movement is communicated to the companion cam, through the notched plate. lt will be understood that these switchy cams 3, 3", cooperate with the upper row of long butts a of the'instep needles and atl certain times, with the upper short butts ct, a2 ofthe seam cam, as indicated in the wb needles. The instep needles, as before stated, are. raised by the instep cams 9', 9 engaging their upper hutte, lout these cams do not act on the upper short buttsof the seam needles, as they are never set in close enough to the needle cylinder to engage these short butts. This condition is illustrated in lFig.- /lin which the instep needles are in elevated position corresponding to their idle position in heel and toe work, lout for split foot work, these needles are operated to knit as well as the heel and toe needles.

Supposing the movementof the needles is in the arrow X direction, Fig. li. "lhe leading needle will. loe the short `loutt seeming needle, whos-e upper butt is shown in dotted lines at a hack of the cam 9, this needle having assumed its normal plane.' @n this stroke, the cam 3" will loe swung out hy the upper loutts of the instep needles contacting with the tapered or bevelled inner face 32" of this cam, see Aplan View lig. 311. swinging of this" cani out tol the shown in Fig. 3b, will, because of l5 and pins i6 and 11, cause' the arm ll also, but not as far as the arm ll, see Fig. 8b, this difference lacing duc to the lost vinotion in the' notches 15X of the plate l5. .The cam 3 will therefore'stand fa enough away from the needle cylinder that the short loutt a of the' leading needle as, this being one of the seeming needles. will pass this cam without being switched down' thereby, and its lower butt will not he brought into line with the stitch cam lb, and hence on this clockwise stroke this needle will not form a vnew loop, lout will hold its old loop and pass the cam in normal position. go down at this time, i. e., as they pass the cam 3, as their u per butts are longenough to engage the inclined lower edge ofthe sa1d dotted lines in Fig.

position vthe plate to. be swung out rlhe trailing teaming needle a2, whenthis -comes around on this stroke, will form a loop because as soon as the last normal butt instep needleat passes the cam 3, the spring` 14 will snap this cam towards the center of the machine, whereupon itwill rest momentarily upon the short butt trailing needle a2, hut as soon as this passes away from the end of the cam 3 the latter will 'take another quick step movement inward and thus the plate 15 will move inwardly and allow the cam 3 to move inwardly also under tension of spring 14, and as this movement takes place, the cams snap all the way in towards the cylinder, and as this happens before the short hut-t needle a2 reaches the inclinedI under edge of the cam 8, the latter will cause fthe downward movement of the short butt needle andthus cause its lower butt to engage the stitch cum lb for making a stitch. lt may be pointed out here, however, as will connecting the two arms 1l lll@ The instep needles will 5 l.

lll)

iis

f wards the stitch be clear from Fig. 4, that the movement of the needle@2 to the left is to be regarded as the leading needle as it comes around to cam l of the main set and it is rendered inoperative as to forming a newfloop `at this feed because it is picked up to what corresponds to idle level g/f-y in heel and toe knitting, by the narrowing pick 6 shown at the left of Fig. 4, and having thus joined the elevated needles as the trailing one of thesewhich will knit at the cam 1b of the additional cam set, it will, as just stated,

form a loop at this cam 1" vso The needle cylinder makes substantially a complete revolution at each-strekte, and each seaming needle a or a2 passes both the main feed andthe additional orlinstep yarn feed at each stroke. Each seaming needle makes a loop at one feed, but does not'make a loop at the other'feed on each stroke. Considering one of these needles, it will be understood that on one stroke it will not make a loop at the main feed, but will at the iecond or instep yarn feed, whereas on the return stroke, it will not make a loop at the second feed, but will at the main feed, and it will be understood that both suture needles make their loops at the same time in the strokes and miss loop formation 4at the same time in the strokes. o

l0n the stroke'opposite to that of the arrow in Fig. 4, it will be understood that the needle a? will not knit in passing the aumliary stitch cam l, as it will not be thrown down lby the switch cam 3, but it will knit at the main stitch cam 1the switch 'cam 3 being controlled to be Set inward towards the needle cylinder for deflecting the needle downwardly to pass under this stitch cam. The needle, a on this stroke, which is the reverse of that indicated by the arrow X, will not knit at the main fced` (stitch cam because it will be picked up to the elevated plane y-'y' by the narrowing pick shown at the rightof Fig. 4), auxiliary feed A, it will knit because it will then be the trailing needle `of the series that are knitting at this feed, i. e., it will pass switch cam 3 "z and be switched down by cam 3 when this snaps close against the cylinder' because of thegvcarn snapping o from this trailing needle. It `will thus be seen that each of the suture needles knits at 'one and does not knit at the other feed ony each stroke, it missing knitting when it leads and knits when it trails the series, andthat on the return stroke it alternates the above order, missing knitting at the feed which it knitted at .on the first stroke, at the feedgg-where it missed knitting, and as tothe otheigshortbutt needle, this knits and does not fin like manner with theshort butt needle-.first mentioned.

During round knitting, or duringfheel andl .on by the pattern but on arriving at thel and knitting lLeos, 194

toe work, the switch cams 3 3 are held out of action, i. e., away from the path of the upper needle butts by a lever 17 pivoted at- 18 to the bracket 16 in which the slide "15 moves, the lever engaging a pin 20 on the under side of the" slide 15, 'on which also a spring 21 bears to force the slide inwardly.

The lever 17 is operated to retract theslide by a rod 22 extending to aiever 23, con

nected by a rod 24 to any suitable form of controller, which is combined with the Pigeon organization. This connection is operated automatically and the camsv are" allowed to set themselves outwardly away from the needle cylinder to inoperative position by a spring 25 and they are forced into operative position by the pattern wheel Q6 v which is Xed on the pattern drum shaft 27 of the Pigeon machine, said pattern wheel as shown in Fig. 11 having raised portions 28,

29 to lift the lever 30 connected with the rod i 24, for setting the switch cams into action.

The -lever 30 is pivoted at 3l to a suitable part of the frame.

The widening pick is ,swivelleehV having vertical swinging movement about pivot 7 4.in a standard 7 x which turns in a bearing in a lever 32 pivoted at 33 to the base of the knitting head, which lever is operated by a rod 34, lever 35Vand rod 36 controlled by a spring 37., Fig. 11 to force the pick inwardly towards the cylinder for picking the needles and, by a lever 38 pivoted at 31 and operated wheel 26, which has'parts lifting the lever 38 to set the a9, 4o, 41 for from the path of the needle pick out away butts. y

The levers 30 and 38 are also controlled by` a pin 42 on a swinging rod 43 pivoted to a suitable part ofthe machine frame at 44. This rod is connected by a in 45 set therein, which enters a slot ina lin r 46 which is conneoted with an arm 47 pivoted to the frame at 48l and controlled by av cam portion 49, dotted lines, Fig. 11 on the pattern wheel 26. A spring 46 connected to the link and the pin 45 tends to pull the hanging rod 43 towards the right. The hanging rod is moved leftward by a pin 42 on the quadrant 42" pivoted at 42X, this quadrant being substanf' tially thatshownin the Pigeon patent. It

presses the hanging rod leftward at each backward stroke, i. e., to the left'in Fig. 1-1.

This employment of the quadrant tov exert controlen the levers 30,` 38 is for the vpurpose of exercising said control atv such time as is necessary' while the .pattern Wheel 2G is not in forward motion in the 'direction of the arrow. It will be understood that the ,pattern wheel moves step by step by a pawl operating a ratchet wheel on shaft 27, the operation of which is controlled by a pattern chain. The mechanism described will permit an automatic change to take place when the pattern wheel is at rest, orl in other words, when the backward Amovementof the pawl takes place.v l

As above stated, the levers 30, 38 are moved upward by the projections on the pat- 'tern wheel to movethe switch cams 3,', 3 in towards the needle cylinderand the widenin pick out or away from the needle cylles `is connected by a link 68 with 69 pivoted at 13', which by another link 71 in er. The fall of these levers 30, 38 i. e., at their forward ends is controlled, after'the pattern wheel has moved forward to remove its projections from under these levers, the position of thepin 42. This pin at `times overlies the rear ends of the levers and holds them from falling until such time that the quadrant on its rear stroke brings its pin 42against hanger rod 43 and moves pin 42 to the rear which allows the levers 30, 38 to drop, thus allowing the switch cams to move out to inoperative position, and the widening pick to operative position, and this action takes place at a later period than vthe, forward movement ofthe pattern wheel, 26.

After the next forward movement of the pattern wheel the lever 47 drops oft` of the pattern `block 47 and this throws the detent or hanger bar 43 to the-left out of operation. The Pigeon machine has a series offingers connected to a bar 50, Figs. 1 and 3, which is carried by a bracket 51 fixed to a rod 52, which slides axially vwhen the clutch is thrown for changingfrom round to recipro eating knitting, or the reverse, and this shifting movement. carries the fingers to` wards or from the needle cylinder as the case may be. iVhen the machine auto1natically sets itself for round knitting the linger 53 will retract the switch cam 3 at left or Fig. 4, see also Fig. 3, and the finger 54 will throw one of the narrowing picks 6 ont of operative position, i. e., the left hand one of Figs. 3 and 4, see also Fig. 2, the end of `th1s finger bearingI against a pin 6,extend ing up from this pick. This bar 50 in my organization .also carries a linger 55 connected by a pin 56 to a slide 57 guided by its slot 58 engaging a pin 59 extending down from one of the sections of the collar 13, and this slide at its inner end carries the instep lowering cam 10 which lowers the ins'tep needles when the machine is to no on round knitting.

The finger 54 is utilized for positioning the instep or raising cams 9, 9', and for this purpose it has a pin 6l engaging an arm 62, Fig. 3 pivoted at 63 and bearing on a pin 64 on the tail 65 of the arm 66, which is pivoted lat 67 to the collar section 13 and carries the needle raising cam 9.

a cross arm connects 4with the tail 72 ofthe arm 73 pivoted at 74 to the collar section 13. and the other raisingcam 9 is carried by the latter arm. The arm 66 which carries the instep The tail cam 9 is pressed inwardly by a spring 60", which pressure is transmitted through the connections to the other arm 73 of the cam 9. Both of these arms are limited in their inwayrd movementbystop pins 9x and this limits the inward positions ofthe cams 9, 9', so that while they will engage the needles having the longer upper butts, they will not engage the short upper butts of the seam needles.

The collar sections 13, which are also pivoted at 13', extend around the cylinder and at their front ends are bifurcated to embrace posts74 extending up from the base of the head, and these sections 13 are held locked to these posts by nuts '75 threaded on the posts and having conical portions 76 which engage seats in the bifurcated ends ofthe arms 13 to hold .them in place. innl the nuts 75, the arms 13 can be swung aside carrying with them the arms 11, 11 with their cams 3,' 3, and also'the arms 66 and 73 with their cams 9, 9. The-arm 73 can be swung out independently, it being pressed by a spring'76; This arm is jointed with its tail. portion 72 at 77 so that it can be swung out by hand independently of its tail portion, but can also be swung out automatically when its tail portion is'drawn towards the center of the machine.

Auxiliary yar/n, control.

.For making the split foot, the auxiliary or instep yarn is thrown in at the feeding point diametrically opposite the main feed and the machine being,r -now in oscillation, the

vsplit foot will be formed, the instep yarn remainingin `work until the vheel is to be formed, whereupon the following actions take place. The heel yarn may be changed. The vinstep or auxiliaryyarn feed finger A is first moved radially outward from its feeding position close to the so as to remove the instep yarn from the needles. Compare in this connection, the feeding position of the yarn finger A in F ig. 2 with this outward position in Figs. 58L and 6. In the latter figure the finger A is shown in its feeding position in full lines andin its outward position in dot-ted lines. Also Ithe elevated position of the yarn feed finger yis indicated in this figure withxthe yarn-in dotted lines extending from said linger to the point where it is tied to the fabric. yarn when lifted out of work, does not wrap around any needle, but passes clear to the By loosen? circle of needles,

interior of the needle row. For vthusoperi ating the' yarn finger .A the blockV 78 to which the instep yarn finger is pivotallv mounted at 78, is swung on its pivot v by the n rod78 connected with the post 78a entending up from the base plate of the yarn Enger block. This block is pivoted to the center shear and clamp supporting plate 80 at 78", and swings horizontally. The rod 78 is operated by the' supplemental pattern drum 79, Fig. 2, which is generally similar to that used in the Pigeon machine tor operating the yarn lingers of the main feed. Said rod is connected with a lever 79 pivoted .at 79\to the bracket 79, the lower end ot the lever resting on the supplemental pattern drum and a spring 79h connected with the bent end ot' the rod serves to keep the lever in Contact with the pattern drum. Movement of this rod to lthe right, Figs. Q and 5, will swing the yarn Vlinger block to the right and movethe instep yarn Jfeed nger A outwardly from the needles Fig. 5a, and then 'the said yarnnivingen will be raised and as its are of movementis inward in respect to the needle circle the yarn will be carried between theneedles and will extend directly trom the ta'hric upwardly and inwardly of the needle circle, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and then as the needles continue to move' in the clockwise direction this yarn will be directed under the guide or guard plate 80, and will be directed into the slot 80 in the front .of the base plate 80 and beyond the spring detent 80a in which 'position it will be held during the and osi-illating .entire operation et' knitting]` the heel with the needle cylinder in oscillation. This yarn will not be cut but will remain tied into the fabric. lt will extend through the slot 80 and beneath the plate '80 and beneath the level of the cutter 80'? so that it will not besevercd, but will be allowed to 7 lloat. ln lifting the yarn out of action as just described, the yarn linger is so timed in its rising movement that as soon as the point 'where the yarn Iis tied into the fabric comes to position in the same radial plane passing through the yarn guide eye, the upward movement takes place to move tuhc yarn from outside to inside the needle row, and thisI takes place without Wrapping the yarn at all across or around needle shank. Fig. 5" indicates at o the condition soon atter the yarn is lifted up, lt extends from the yarn linger directly lto it is'tied into the fabric. [it v l show a full linev indication of the position of this ,yarn after the tie point t has progressed in the clockwise arrow direction to the position t. New the yarn has been directed into the slot, in the plate 80 and will be retained therein by the detent spring while the needle circle oscillates. l

lllfhen the heel pocket is finished and the split portionoi the stocking above the heel ocket at the back'o the stocking is to be nit` that is the, portion corres ending in location to what is known as the igh splice, together with the part above the instep, the instep yarn finger is again thrown into work knitting continues the saine as for the formation ol the split toot.

llig. 'l shows the position ot the yarn ha knitting in the point where to 'this time, following the completion of the cated 1n incense ger A when. it has been returned to 'feeding' position, as just stated, aider the 'formation -into the abriewith the mainyarn going in from the main yarn linger B. This ot'these two yarns jointly will take place at theright hand stitch earn 1 ot the main set, and Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate l this, and Fig. '8 illustrates also that a short length or bow of this instep yarn will be left at 2 extending troni the point where the end ot this yarn is tied to the fabric, to the point where it is knitted in` at the fourth or flitth needle, as the case may be. This bow appears ol? course, on the inside ot the fabric. This instep yarn having been knit into the section ot the split fabric above the heel, that` is, that section which is knit with the main yarn trom linger iB and thus having been locked in place, the anti-clockwise stroke takes place andthe length ot varn which is wrapped around the outside bt the column of idleneedles, see Fig. 8, will` be taken up by the yarn talrefup mechanism and thus drawn back through the leed tinger A. @n the nent clockwise stroke this instep yarn will proceed to make that por tion-ot the split fabric around the trontot the ankle, and this will take'place tiret atv of the irontv the lett hand knitting com 1b or second set ot cams, and then at the right hand cam 1" on the next anti-clockwise stroke, and so on. 4While these actions are taking place, the portion above the heel will be knit by the main set ot earns andthe heel and toe needles at the main 'leed B.

It will be understood, of course, that up heel and while the lirst clockwise stroke is taking place, as shown in Figs. ,7 and 8., the trent or second set ol cams are inoperative because the switch earns 3', 3" have been retractedawa trom the needle butt path.

This locking in ot the instep, yarn takes place substantially at the point e as indithe diagram of the stocking.

The auxiliary or instep yarn finger, when feed-ing, at all times lies just outside the needle row. The split tabric portion above the heel pocket having been knit, as just described, the intep yarn guide is lifted by the 'patterndruni :trom its feeding position to that shown in Figs. 9, 9a. ln this lifting action, the auxiliary yarn leed linger is not given tiret a radial outward move lili) llo ' ieee, rea

ment as in 'the causev above described when beginning to knit the heel, as -now `1t is not intended to leave this yarn tied into the fabric, until it is brought into Work again, but it is intended to sever and clamp it within the needle circle. It is also intended, however, to lock it intothe upper edge of that portion of ythe split fabric Which lies above the heel by knitting it in together with the main yarn and this is the action taking place in Fig. 9. In the diagram ot the stocking, the shaded portions are those knit with the cotton7 yarn throughout the foot and above the heel, and the portion s where it is tied into .the fabric and this stretch ot yarn will lay against the outer side ot' the stems and under the beards and' will be in position to be taken by these v beards when the main stitch cam 1 is reached- Figs. 4 and 9', and limitv and locked into the fabric with the main yarn and Fig. 10 shows Where this locking effect takes place, viz, at z2, as above stated.4 In performing the action the yarn extending from the raised yarn finger to the :tabrie lays'on the outside ot' the "needles audit will ride over the upper edge the outside of the stems of the few Y above described.

of the guide-plate 80, as shown in .Figa 9, and will be directed tothe hook 81 which will catch the yarn on the inside of the needle row, and from there the yarn will extend out between the needles and along mentioned see e3 to efllig. 9, to be knit in as `The continued movement in a clockwise direction will cause this yarn to be carried under a spring Wire clam 82 vand then to a, cutter 8()b at the edge o the notch 83 in the base plate 80" Where the yarnwill be severed,.but'the out end Will be held under the clamp until this clamp is relieved from pressure and releases thel yarn.

As bet'ore stated, the instep yarn finger is pivotally mounted at 78. It has a bif'urcated base portion through the depending ends ol which the pivot extends and it is pressed by a spring 84 which tends constantly to move the yarn finger to its low ered position. lt' is operated by a roddel' extending fromjthe upstanding ear 84" of its base portion .to a lever Sltwhich is piv oted at 7D and has its lower end resting on the supplemental pattern drum 79, which has highy and low parts disposed about it by which the lever is operated.,

.The main yarn fingers are ypivotally mounted at- 85 and are normallyv pressed v doWIi by springs, one of which is shown at 85,. The main yarn lingers are raised'to inoperative position .by arms 85 pivotally mounted. and having downward extensions opera-ted by the supplemental pitt'ern drum, substantially as in the Pigeon patent. When 4lifted. out .of work, the main yarns are carried beneath a clamp 85 and a shear blade 85", which latter severs them, and the cut ends are held by the said clamp.

This clamp and shear-blade are both oper-v ated by a vertically extending rod, spring -pressed downwardly as at86, and raised b v alever 86 bearing on the underside. of pin 86 operated by a rod 86? extending toA a lever 86n at the supplemental pattern drum, Fig. 2. rlhespring pressed plunger'or rod 86,'is connected by a pin 86h with the movable shear blade 85h whichis pivoted to the standard at 87 and a second pin 86d conn'ects the vertically Working plunger with the clamp 85a so that both will be lifted when the plunger is raised to allow the yarn to vpass beneath them, and thereupon they both fall together to sever and clamp the yarn. l

.ln Figs. 2 and 9, l show an arm or linger 88 extending near the instep yarn guide. This will catch ythe yarn 'as it is raised out of Work and assist in directing it as shown in this Fig. 9. This nger is an extension of the bearing 88 for the spring clamp 82. 'this hearing is carried by a lever 88 pivoted to the post 89 extending, up form the shear and clamp plate and this lever is operated by a rod 90 extending back to a lever ,9W-at the supplemental pattern mechanism to be operated thereby to lift the bearing and thus raise the spring wirevclamp 82 to release the instep yarn. y

Referring to Fig. l2, this shows certain ot the members ofthe pattern drum 79 in their positions relative to the same vertical line. The disc or member marked 1st, is the .same one shown in Fig. 2. lt has high' and low parts, and when the lever controlled by it. rides on any part ofthe high periphery, the yarn finger A will be in its elevated or nonlfeeding position, shown in dotted linesin Fig. 2, and when the controlling lever rests upon the low part ot' the cam, the yarn finger A will be down. The disc marked 2nd, is the one for controlling the radial position of the yarn finger A, i. 'eq/whether close to or removed `from the needle row. trols parts 78, 78 and 78 to secure the radial position of the finger A, as just mentioned. lVhen the notch in this disc is in position to'allow the ,controlling connection or lever to drop therein, the-yarn guident will be thrown outward radially to its out ermost position, but. whenthe connection, or'the lever, rides on the concentric, or main lll? It conv `sition of the pawl.

part of the periphery, then the yarn finger A will be held in. its normal position close to the 'needle row.

The disc Amarked 3rd, controls. the Wire clamp 82. inthe notch shown in this disc, the yWire :lamp lifted. but when thehigh concentric peripherv is active against the connection leading to the Wire clamp, the said clamp will be held in clamping position. l`he disc marked 4th, is the one for controlling` the shear blade 85h and clamp 85a, and it has eight teeth for this purpose, representing one shearing action.

All 0f these dSCSAare .keyed to a drum or shalt. rlhe same drum carries other discs for operating the niain yarn fingers, substantially as in the YPigeon machine, and it has been thought unnecessary to show these discsr.lhe drum 79, or the discs comprising this drum, are operated through any suitable mechanism. l show in Fig. 13, one form of mechanism driven from the usual elements of the Pigeon machine. In this figure. 91 indicates a gear (marked 35 in Pigeon Patent No'. 1,266,044), this being the gear which Operatesthe pitman which operates the quadrant of the said machine. On the shaft of this gear Wheel is fixed a cam 92 operating a lever 93 pivoted` at 94 and having a pin 95 to engage, 96 in a link 9T. carrying` arinor axis of the drum The link operates a pavvl lever 98., turnable about the 79 and having a pavvl 99 to operate a ratchet wheel 100 fixed on the shaft of the drum. The link 97 is controlled in its relation to the pin 95, Which actuates it by a pinlO on an arm or lever 101 on a shaft 102, ,which has an arm 103\depending therefrom to be operated by suitably spaced lugs on the pattern chain 104, forming a part of the usual Pigeon organization. This pattern' chain passes over a Wheel 'on the shaft .of the pattern drum.' as usual in the Pigeon machine, this shaft being marked 27 herein, and 73 in the said Pigeon patent. The arms 101 and 103 are pressed by a spring 104 to hold the link 9'4" out of the path of the pin 95. When the pattern chain calls for it, the armsl03 and 101 areoperated to allow the link 97 to move towards the right under tension of the springr 100, so as to Inake the pin 95 engage the notch 96 on its downward stroke, and thus pull the link 9T dorrnl to advance the drum 79 one step by ineans of the pawl and ratchet. The pawl will be reu turned to normall position by` a spring A stop pin 108 determines the retracted po rl`he pawl arm has a. handle 109 by which it may be operated by handn Where il refer to a niain yarn feed, this of course, is used in a generic sense to include `When its controlling lever drops vjearn into each tooth y at certain times, a notchv Leoni-e4.

any desired number of yarn -ngers at` thisfeed lfor supplying a,yarn for heel and toe the ring toe portion, split foot, heel, split fabric .sectionv around the ankle, and then the leg. This enables me to lock the instep the ,fabric at the top of the heel or at the top of the split fabric section when the silk or instep yarn is about to be taken out of work. This is done, as before stated, by carrying this end around to the Inain yarn feed and knitting it in with the main yarn. This locking elffpactcould` not be secured if the. stockingl were knitby toe.`

Considering the dark loops as those knit with the main yarn at the main feed and the light loops as those knit with the vinstep yarn-at the additional feed, it will be seen that along the seam or suture S--S there appears a light loop alternating with `dark dark loops appear at every other course of the sole fabric. These alternate llightand dark loops jointly form a continuous Wale at the seam. f

It will be noticed also that the sinker Wale loops s,' and these a2 between any one of the light loops and the next light loop formed'with the contn'uation. of the light yarn as at s3, and which is a part. of the next Wale and nextcourse, will extend at an inclination from the light suture loop to the next light loop (a3) formed in the standing Wale adjacenty the suture. This formation'gives a structure in which the light yarn instep fabric has loop a ,along the seam lying within the. gein eral dimensions of` the sole fabric and conversely the dark seam loops s of the sole fabric extend or overlap into the general dimensions of the instep fabric. The sinker loops of the dank yarn as at 84, which extend from the next loop formed of a. continuation of this yarn, like the yarn s2 of the -sinker Wale of the light yarn, also extends at an inclination, but in the opposite direction to the light sinker loop a2, because after any dark suture loop is in the adjacent Wale (to the right) but in the next course, i. e., see the loop 35. The suture Sp--S is formed in a manner similar to that above described, but its light and'dark suture loops are in alternate courses' for those of the scam fifi-S.

his structure gives a perfectly flat seam and of the same thickness as the rest of the.

the organization of the machine wherebjifr dark suture. loops s to the finishing at the e at every other course, f

the next loop formed ,"to the main feeding cach seaiuin'g needle will make a stitch on one side of the fabric, but noton vthe other side, this being true of both seaming needles so that no extra loop is formed. To state the operation in another Way,-\vhi1 e each seanr ing needle passes both feeds on each stroke of the machine in one direction, it will f orm a loop at only'one of these feeds, i. e., that feed where it is the'trailing needle of those which are to knit. The suture needles'deal with singleI loops. rlhey never form, cast ofl any but single loops.

It may be noted that in Fig. 3 I have not indicated the collar sestions 13 in `full line throughout, but have indicated the inner margin of this only by a dotand dash line. This is for convenience of illustration, asin View of the fact that these collar sections are in a higher plane than the various'cams, these cams would be hidden if the collar sections were shown complete both as to their outer and inner margins.

The method and article herein described will be made the subject mattei' of a divi* sional application.

I claiml. In combination in a split foot stock-v ing knitting machine, a main-feed for heel and toe yarn,'a second feed'for instep yarn and means for causing .the shifting of the instep yarn 'at a prescribed period of the knitting to the main feeding point to be knit into the fabric With the main yarn at said main feeding point, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a split foot stocking knitting machine, a main' feed for heel and toe yarn, a second feed for instep yarn and means for causing the shifting of the instep' yarn at a prescribed period of the knitting point to be there knit into the fabric with the main yarn, and` thereafter continue knittingwith said instep yarn yat saidl second feed for making the front section of the split fabric at the ankle While the rear section of said split fabric is made by the main yarn, substantially; as described.

3. In 'combination in a split foot stocking machine, a main feed for heel and toe yarn, a feed for Iinstep yarn including a guide for said yarn, and means for operating said guide to lift the yarny out of Work for heel `and toe Work and for throwing said yarn into work/to be knit in first at the main yarn knitting point'with the main yarn and thereafter continued at the knitting point for the 'instep yarnffor making the front section of thesplit fabric at the ankle while the rear section of said split fabric is made by the main yarn substantially as described.

4. In .con'ibination ina split ,foot stocking heel and toe yarn,

machine, a main feed for a feed for instep yarn including a guide for' said yarn, and means for operating said guide to 4lift the yarn out of Work for heel and toe Work and for throwing said yarn into work to be. knit in first at t-h'e main yarn knitting poi-nt together With the main yarn and thereafter continued at the knitting point for the instep yarn for making the lfront ankle portion-'of' the split fabric, said instep yarn'remaining tied to the' fabric when out of work during the knitting ofthe ,heel, substantially as described. i

' 5. In combination in a split foot stocking machine, a main feed for heel and toe yarn,

a feed for instep yarn including a guide for said yarn, :and means foruoperating said guide to lift the yarn out of Work for heel and toe Work and for throwing said yarnl into Work "to/be kitin first at the main yarn knitting point jointly with said main yarn and thereafter vcontinued at the knit. t-ingp'oint for the instep yarn for making' the front ankle portion' of the split fabric, said instep yarn'remaining tied to the fabric when out of-work during the knitting of the eel, and'wlie'n locked into the fabric With the main yarn, there being formed a bow of this yarn extending from the tied end to the point where ric. substantially as described.

6. In a split foot stocking knitting machine,the combination of a main feed 'for heel and toe knitting, a second feed for knit--v of the needles to befknit in at the mainx feed jointly With the main yarn, While said endy 'remains tied to the fabric, and thereafter continuing said knitting in of the said instep yarn at the second feedon reverse stroke of the needle carrier, substantially as described;

7. In combination in a knitting machine for making split foot stockings, a main yarn feed for heel and toe Work, a second yarn feed including a movable guide for the -instep yarn, and means for controlling said guide to lift the yarn out of Work by moving it to the interior of the needle circle While` its end remains tied to the fabric and While the heel is being knit and thereafter moving said guide to carry the said instep yarn between the needles to the outside and allow it to Wrap about the circle of needles `until the main knitting cam is reached Where said yarn is knit in jointly with the main yarn, theyarn guide for the instep yarn then're` maining in feeding positionto continue knitting of this yarn at the second feedon theY and toe and leg Work, aninstep yarn feed,

this yarn is locked in the fab- 

